I am looking to make the same transition (but I'm at wells fargo). I've heard good things here about eTrade, and ING Direct might be interesting, as well. A lot of banks now have "photo" check deposits so you can just take a pic of the check to deposit them, but haven't used the service.

I've got Ally, loving them. They give you free prepaid envelopes for sending in checks to deposit (or you can scan them), good interest rates, their website is well done and easy to use, bill pay works great, no stupid fees. You can't deposit cash, though. But any and all Atms anywhere are free to use to withdraw cash, Ally refunds you any Atm fees at the end of each statement period.

I actually have never called them, but did their chat once and there was no wait and it wasn't in India somewhere.

I do however still keep a small amount in my old Wells Fargo account, in case I need a physical bank for something or Ally's site goes down when I really need some banking service, or for some reason do have cash I need to deposit (or if I ever needed a large amount of cash I could transfer from Ally to there so I could withdraw it).

When these banks say there are no ATM fees, does that include the fees you get charged by the owner of the ATM? For example, you have Ally but withdraw $100 from Bank of America and they charge you $2.50 so your total withdrawal is $102.50. Do you get that $2.50 back or you just don't get hit with a fee from Ally for using an ATM other than theirs?

Ally gives you the $2.50 back that BofA charged you...basically in a roundabout way, Ally pays BofA for letting their customer use that ATM. Ally does not have ATMs, so you can use anyone else's and they refund you the fee you were charged by that ATM.

I've got Ally, loving them. They give you free prepaid envelopes for sending in checks to deposit (or you can scan them), good interest rates, their website is well done and easy to use, bill pay works great, no stupid fees. You can't deposit cash, though. But any and all Atms anywhere are free to use to withdraw cash, Ally refunds you any Atm fees at the end of each statement period.

I actually have never called them, but did their chat once and there was no wait and it wasn't in India somewhere.

I do however still keep a small amount in my old Wells Fargo account, in case I need a physical bank for something or Ally's site goes down when I really need some banking service, or for some reason do have cash I need to deposit (or if I ever needed a large amount of cash I could transfer from Ally to there so I could withdraw it).

That's nice, but having to scan checks and not being able to deposit cash sound awful to me.

I'd do it if I could take a picture of the checks with my phone and upload it, but I don't have a scanner and do not intend to buy one.

Fidelity Cash Managment account- Zero fee's- Unlimited ATM reimbursement, so every ATM in existence is free to use- Awesome billpay- Pretty solid Android app- You have the helpdesk of a multi gazillion $$ brokerage house as your first line helpdesk

I've had them for years, and never had a single issue with them. From recent threads it sound like Schwab's offer is nearly (if not totally) identical

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I'd do it if I could take a picture of the checks with my phone and upload it, but I don't have a scanner and do not intend to buy one.

Fidelity recently added this to thier Andorid app, I deposited a check via my phone a few weeks back. You also get postage paid envelopes if you want to mail the check in.

Fidelity Cash Managment account- Zero fee's- Unlimited ATM reimbursement, so every ATM in existence is free to use- Awesome billpay- Pretty solid Android app- You have the helpdesk of a multi gazillion $$ brokerage house as your first line helpdesk

I've had them for years, and never had a single issue with them. From recent threads it sound like Schwab's offer is nearly (if not totally) identical

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I'd do it if I could take a picture of the checks with my phone and upload it, but I don't have a scanner and do not intend to buy one.

Fidelity recently added this to thier Andorid app, I deposited a check via my phone a few weeks back. You also get postage paid envelopes if you want to mail the check in.

There is also an iPhone app. They no longer do postage paid envelopes.

Fidelity Cash Managment account- Zero fee's- Unlimited ATM reimbursement, so every ATM in existence is free to use- Awesome billpay- Pretty solid Android app- You have the helpdesk of a multi gazillion $$ brokerage house as your first line helpdesk

I've had them for years, and never had a single issue with them. From recent threads it sound like Schwab's offer is nearly (if not totally) identical

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I'd do it if I could take a picture of the checks with my phone and upload it, but I don't have a scanner and do not intend to buy one.

Fidelity recently added this to thier Andorid app, I deposited a check via my phone a few weeks back. You also get postage paid envelopes if you want to mail the check in.

I'll point out two issues I have with Fidelity... not major, but depending on your habits, could be an issue:

1st. My job has issues figuring out how to do the direct deposit to a brokerage (job's fault, not Fidelity's).2nd Fidelity holds onto deposits WAY too long before I can access the $$. They bounced a check 1 week after I made a deposit, simply saying "uncollected funds". This was a bank-to-bank transfer between two of my accounts, the sending bank had shown the deposit going out on Monday, a check I wrote a full week later on the account @ Fidelity wasn't paid because the funds were "uncollected"3rd. *IF* you are likely to ever bounce a check - Fidelity's bounced check fee is $75. A bit steep. See note above...

All in all I'm happy with them, just know that you might have a few "growing pains" as you switch over. FWIW, I used ING for years, and was perfectly happy with them - my switch to Fidelity was simply driven by the fact that I have my retirement accounts there as well.

1st. My job has issues figuring out how to do the direct deposit to a brokerage (job's fault, not Fidelity's).2nd Fidelity holds onto deposits WAY too long before I can access the $$. They bounced a check 1 week after I made a deposit, simply saying "uncollected funds". This was a bank-to-bank transfer between two of my accounts, the sending bank had shown the deposit going out on Monday, a check I wrote a full week later on the account @ Fidelity wasn't paid because the funds were "uncollected"3rd. *IF* you are likely to ever bounce a check - Fidelity's bounced check fee is $75. A bit steep. See note above...

I've had no problems setting up direct deposit, my paycheck goes right in every other week. You just have to know what numbers to put on the direct deposit form, they had a page laying it out before that walked you through it. As for access to $$, I noticed that if I mailed a check in, it took a while for the $$ to appear, but using the deposit by phone method, I think the $$ was there like 2 days later. Much faster. Not that I deposit that many checks, I've probably had 10 or so total in the last 7-8 years.

Etrade user here for the past 3-4 years. They do ATM refunds immediately, not this end of the month nonsense. If I go down stairs to the any million of bank ATMS around me and withdraw 40, I immediately see a withdrawal for $43.00, and a credit of $3.00.

Their web site is great and easy to use. Bill pay is wonderful, customer service is outsourced, but the few times I've called them I have gotten things done quickly and easily.

I've had an ING Direct "Electric Orange" checking account for years, just because I happened to have a savings account with them. I rarely ever use it except as a place to shuffle around money, still relying primarily on my local bank.

I always found ING's offering to be a complete non-starter because they disallowed any and all use of physical checks. They didn't offer checks, and if you had checks printed up with the routing and account number of your checking account they would be rejected.

I don't write paper checks all that often, but the reality is there are times where a paper check must be handed over at the time of the transaction. I can't (for example) swipe my credit card in the plumber's asscrack once he's finished doing his handiwork, and he sure as hell isn't leaving my house without some form of payment in his hands for the work he just did.

A couple of months ago they apparently realized the error of this limitation, and started to offer paper checks to customers. You only get 50 checks for $5, which seems a bit steep, but the reality is that's probably plenty for most customers. Also you have to enter a code online to activate them after you've received the checkbook in the mail.

I'm still using the same set of checks I got with my regular bank account like 6 years ago, and I've taken to putting address labels on them because I've changed addresses in the mean time and don't really want to order more. Fifty paper checks would easily last me several years.

I love working with ING Direct. They're support is top-notch. 24/7 phone support, and e-mails are almost always answered within a few hours.

Depositing checks can be annoying. You have to mail the checks in. That's not as convenient as depositing them through an ATM. But hardly anybody ever pays me in checks nowadays.

Writing checks is quite easy. ING will mail out checks (complete with account and routing numbers) to any name/address you specify at no charge. I pay my rent to my landlord every month this way, and he's never missed a check or had any problems depositing it.

I wouldn't say I get a lot of paper checks, but I get enough to want to avoid the hassle. Mail in rebates, insurance reimbursements, and things like that. While I get my pay direct deposited, any reimbursed expenses are done by check.

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Writing checks is quite easy. ING will mail out checks (complete with account and routing numbers) to any name/address you specify at no charge.

The main problem, which they've now resolved, are situations where you're required to hand over a check at a particular time. This is especially common with certain types of paperwork, where the form and the check are expected to be in the same envelope.

1st. My job has issues figuring out how to do the direct deposit to a brokerage (job's fault, not Fidelity's).2nd Fidelity holds onto deposits WAY too long before I can access the $$. They bounced a check 1 week after I made a deposit, simply saying "uncollected funds". This was a bank-to-bank transfer between two of my accounts, the sending bank had shown the deposit going out on Monday, a check I wrote a full week later on the account @ Fidelity wasn't paid because the funds were "uncollected"3rd. *IF* you are likely to ever bounce a check - Fidelity's bounced check fee is $75. A bit steep. See note above...

I've had no problems setting up direct deposit, my paycheck goes right in every other week. You just have to know what numbers to put on the direct deposit form, they had a page laying it out before that walked you through it. As for access to $$, I noticed that if I mailed a check in, it took a while for the $$ to appear, but using the deposit by phone method, I think the $$ was there like 2 days later. Much faster. Not that I deposit that many checks, I've probably had 10 or so total in the last 7-8 years.

Just a followup, illustrating my frustration.

I've been waiting on an insurance check for several months - it finally came in, and I deposited it locally at the bank I've had for years. Signed the check and deposited it at the ATM. $$ was there the next business day (last Monday). That same day, I transferred $5K to the Fidelity account, using the transfer option from Fidelity's website. (bank was already linked) This was Monday afternoon.

So far, on the following Monday, I *STILL* do not have access to the funds. They disappeared from my local bank account on Tuesday of last week, Fidelity shows the funds in the account, but the "Available to Withdraw" does not reflect the deposit yet, and I can't pay bills using it. So we're looking at nearly a week without access to my $$.At least ING tells you what day it will be available so that you have the information up front.

So far, on the following Monday, I *STILL* do not have access to the funds. They disappeared from my local bank account on Tuesday of last week, Fidelity shows the funds in the account, but the "Available to Withdraw" does not reflect the deposit yet, and I can't pay bills using it. So we're looking at nearly a week without access to my $$.

It takes 3 days for the check to clear, unless the check is from that bank. Fidelity is not unique in this regard.

It's not the check, it's the interbank transfer that's taking time, and these always take time, regardless of bank, because you have to wait for clearing time on both sides of the transaction. This has nothing to do with Fidelity, you would have waited this long for any bank. This is all standard transaction stuff that is the same with every bank. It used to take me 10 days to move $$ from a bank to my eTrade account.

I transfer tens of thousands of dollars between fidelity accounts all the time, of varying types, and it all happens instantaneously. There's no extra "Fidelity time" added in. Any bank you did this with would work the same way.

If you deposited the check into your fidelity account to begin with, I guarantee it would have shown up just as fast as it did in your local account. It's all the same clearing house.

This is a fine example of why it's not a good idea to have multiple bank accounts with different institutions. You get all the extra hassle and zero benefit.

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At least ING tells you what day it will be available so that you have the information up front.

Sorry to resurrect this thread. After finding out that I got charged a total of $445 in "account maintenance fees" last year, I decided to look into no-fee checking accounts. Unfortunately, all the online banks I have looked at so far (Ally, ING Direct, Schwab) require the account holder to be a US citizen or resident, which I'm not (I'm on work Visa). Is there any way around this absolutely stupid rule?

Unfortunately, all the online banks I have looked at so far (Ally, ING Direct, Schwab) require the account holder to be a US citizen or resident, which I'm not (I'm on work Visa). Is there any way around this absolutely stupid rule?

I'm pretty certain that they're referring to TAX residency. Do you have an SSN? Did you file a 1040 for last year?

Sorry to resurrect this thread. After finding out that I got charged a total of $445 in "account maintenance fees" last year, I decided to look into no-fee checking accounts. Unfortunately, all the online banks I have looked at so far (Ally, ING Direct, Schwab) require the account holder to be a US citizen or resident, which I'm not (I'm on work Visa). Is there any way around this absolutely stupid rule?

You can open an account with USAA. I have the same problem... I have a SSN, but I cannot open an account with Ally, for example. Most banks require non-citizens to open the account in person, which obviously isn't possible with an online bank. Also means online deals for opening accounts are unavailable to us.

USAA had the account open within two days or so, which is pretty awesome. It would be nice if I could deposit checks via mobile app, but you can't do that if you're not military and only have their checking/savings products. Alas, I still have an account with a local bank to deposit cash/checks. They also give me a free incoming international wire transfer every month, which is very useful. Their services are otherwise horrible, but I just transfer my money from there to USAA.

Ally - I have an account with them but I barely do anything with them. I think I opened an account with them since they have better rates on CDs than ING Direct/CapitalOne 360 have.First Internet Bank of Indiana - They have been my primary checking account since I think around 2002. I'm quite happy with them and one of the features that I liked most about them is that you can chat with a representative online instead of having to call them and be on hold forever. http://firstib.comING Direct/CapitalOne 360 - They have been my primary savings account since pretty much 2002 as well. I'm very happy with them and they fit my savings plan. I have about 8 different savings accounts earmarked for different things and opening new accounts with them is easy. I also have an Electric Orange/360 Checking account with them that makes transfers easy.Local Credit Union - I still have an account with a local credit union for depositing cash.

With my set up, I have $X deposited into FirstIB and $Y deposited into the checking account with ING Direct. The FirstIB money is used to pay bills and for spending cash. The ING Direct money gets auto transferred to the various 8 accounts once it hits. I need to take some of my e-fund money and put it in CDs and when I do that, I'll transfer it to Ally since they have higher rates. I also have a local credit union where I keep the minimum $25 in an account. If I have a huge cash deposit, I'll put it in the credit union and then transfer it where it needs to go. For checks, i just do the deposit app with my phone to ING Direct and it works perfectly so far. For larger check amounts, ING Direct has a limit of $3000 deposits from the phone app, there is the local credit union.

I've been doing something like this for years and it works perfectly fine for me. Can get a bit confusing when money is crossing with up to 4 different accounts, but I can keep track of it.

Plusity plus plus. All these recommendations, Ally (GMAC), ING, etc. I'd rather put my money in CUs. I use Navy FCU, but there are tons of CUs out there that are far better than a big bank.

Hell I am pissed that I was dealing with a local bank here last year (Ulster Savings) to do my mortgage and they sold it off to Wells Fargo two months into it. Not happy dealing with a big bank. I should check to change that over to NFCU.

USAA has that, but only if you are a full (ie military) member. I only figured that out after I opened an account

Interesting. Well I know that NFCU membership is for military and supporting civilian services. I got my in when I was working on a federal contract with USAID/OFDA. I don't think they have anything but a full membership in that case. And I for one am glad. There are no NFCU branches for hundreds of miles from my house. It's become awfully convenient.

The customer support is absolutely amazing. The perks program is also equally amazing. You can transfer any perks you make from using your card directly to your account, to amazon gift cards, to visa prepaid card etc etc. They have many choices. I have not had a single fee for anything. I did have one funky charge that I called customer support about and they promptly fixed. The support rep also said if there is anything that might overdraft your account or cause a fee if you simply call in and warn them, they will put a note on the account and they would gladly wave the fee. The are constantly promoting power perks for local businesses which I highly support and promotions which offer as much as 5% back on spending at specific places. Cant tell you how many times I have logged in and looked at my perks account and had a gigantic grin on my face when its 60-80$ in perks for a couple months of spending that I use to take my lady out to a nice dinner. Transfers are free also which is nice. The statements page is very intuitive and easy to use as well as transactions page or recent activity. Its very easy to stop pay on items as well. They recently added the ability to cash/deposit checks from the android/iOS app as well.

HIGHLY recommend!

Here are some examples of power perks. I logged in and copy and pasted today's list basically. The list is constantly changing. Also if you do 5 power perks a month you also qualify for 5% back on the 5th power perk you use. The list is VERY long so just a small warning:P

Another vote for USAA, although I didn't realize that those that are non-military/vets or other than their immediate family could bank with them. If you qualify for the full services, jump on it, and jump on their auto-insurance too. When I joined my current company and we had the health insurance guy in, he mentioned they also did auto and might be able to save us money. I mentioned I had USAA, he said oh, never mind.

USAA has that, but only if you are a full (ie military) member. I only figured that out after I opened an account

Are you sure? I thought the only requirement was that you had a LOC issued by their bank (as the system is essentially advancing you a small line of credit for each check deposited until the thing actually clears).

I use Wells Fargo. Real bank, but also full "remote banking" support. Great web portal for accounts, iPhone app, can snap-and-send check photos, etc. Also my direct deposits typically clear the same fucking day which cannot be said for, well, a lot of banks out there (if you cannot tell, that has infuriated me in the past).